The Premier League is currently on a 15-day non-traditional international break as nations around the world catch-up on World Cup qualifiers that were postponed due to COVID-19.
This is the fourth break of the season - this one forming part of the pre-arranged winter break for Premier League clubs - meaning five pauses will be held during the 2021/22 season, the second time this has happened after the same instance occurred in the 2019/20 season.
Players from South America, North America and Asia have jetted off to represent their countries as they push for qualification for December’s Qatar World Cup.
The Africa Cup of Nations is now in its knock-out stages this international period but UEFA nations, including England, are not taking to the pitch this month meaning most of their players can have an unusual mid-season rest.
However, there is still one Premier League match taking place next weekend (February 5) when Burnley welcome Watford to Turf Moor as they play catch-up on top-flight games themselves.
The Clarets, bottom of the table, have played the least amount of matches so far this season (18) having had a number of games fall foul of Covid. This encounter has already been postponed twice this season.
That will be the only fixture in the league between now and Tuesday, February 8 with Fourth Round FA Cup fixtures due to commence on Friday, February 4.
It will mark a busy week for returning players, with further Premier League fixtures resuming the following weekend on February 12.
The exception is Chelsea, who only return to league action on February 19 due to them competing in the postponed 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.
The final international in-season break will take place in March when European nations compete in World Cup play-offs.
Already-qualified England take on the Czech Republic and Ivory Coast in friendlies during this period.
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